Osteospermum plant named &#39;Balserwhit&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Osteospermum  plant named ‘Balserwhit’ characterized by its single inflorescence form with white-colored ray florets and blue-colored disc florets, freely branching character, medium green-colored foliage, and compact and upright growth habit.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Osteospermum plant botanically known as Osteospermum ecklonis, and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Balserwhit’.

The new Osteospermum originated in a controlled breeding program in Arroyo Grande, Calif., during August 2001. The objective of the breeding program was the development of Osteospermum cultivars that are freely branching, have a compact and upright growth habit, are freely flowering, and have unique flower coloration.

The new cultivar originated from the open-pollination of the cultivar Shell Beach Daisy, not patented, characterized by its lavender-colored “spoon” shaped ray florets, medium to large foliage, and limited branching. Seed from the above stated open-pollination was germinated and grown to maturity. One plant from within the progeny was discovered and selected by the inventor during October 2002, in a controlled environment at Arroyo Grande, Calif.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings since October 2002 at West Chicago, Ill. has demonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type, with all the characteristics as herein described, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedly observed and can be used to distinguish ‘Balserwhit’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Osteospermum plant:

-   -   1. Single inflorescence form with blush white-colored ray         florets and blue-colored disc florets.     -   2. Small, medium green-colored foliage.     -   3. Freely branching character.     -   4. Compact and upright growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female parent primarily in flower color, ray floret shape, and foliage size.

Plants of the new cultivar are most similar to ‘Brightside’, U.S. Plant Pat No. 10,596. However, in side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of ‘Brightside’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar have longer leaves than plants of         ‘Brightside’.     -   2. Plants of the new cultivar have smaller inflorescences than         plants of ‘Brightside’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typical flower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in the photographs differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed description, which more accurately describe the colors of the new cultivar. The plants were grown in 10 cm pots for 10 weeks in a greenhouse at West Chicago, Ill.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habit of the new cultivar with one plant per pot.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an individual flower of the new cultivar.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature, light intensity, and day length without, however, any variance in genotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is the R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, 2001 edition, except where color terms of ordinary significance are used. The color values were determined on Sep. 24, 2004 between 1:00 and 3:00 p.m. under natural light conditions.

The following descriptions and measurements describe plants produced from cuttings taken from stock plants and grown in a double polycarbonate-covered greenhouse under conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. The plants were grown at West Chicago, Ill. in 10 cm pots for 14 weeks while utilizing a soilless growth medium. Greenhouse temperatures were maintained at approximately 60°-75° F. (15°-24° C.) during the day and approximately 45°-55° F. (70°-13° C.) during the night. Greenhouse light levels were maintained at 5,000 to 9,000 footcandles during the day.

-   Botanical classification: Osteospermum ecklonis cultivar Balserwhit. -   Parentage: Open-pollination of the cultivar Shell Beach Daisy, not     patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal stem.         -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 9 to 12 days.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 21-28 days.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching. -   Plant description:     -   -   Crop time.—Approximately 10-13 weeks in a 10 cm pot.         -   Growth habit.—Compact, freely branching.         -   Form.—Upright.         -   Size.—Height: Approximately 15.4 cm from soil level to top             of plant plane. Width (area of spread): Approximately 20.1             cm.         -   Branch.—Quantity per plant: Approximately 4. Strength:             Strong. Length from soil level to base of peduncle:             Approximately 15.2 cm. Diameter: Approximately 4.4 mm.             Internode length at middle of branch: Approximately 6.2 mm.             Texture: Glabrous. Color: 145A with overlay of 187A.         -   Foliage.—Quantity per branch: Approximately 21. Type:             Simple. Fragrance: Pungent. Arrangement: Alternate. Aspect:             At an acute angle to the stem. Shape: Elliptic, pinnatified.             Apex: Acute. Base: Attenuate, sessile. Margin: Widely             dentate. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Length: Approximately             7.8 cm. Width: Approximately 2.4 cm. Texture of upper             surface: Glabrous. Texture of lower surface: Glabrous with             moderate pubescence along margin and veins. Color of upper             surface of mature foliage: Slightly more yellow than 137A             with venation of 145B. Color of lower surface of mature             foliage: 146B with venation of 145B. -   Flowering description:     -   -   Time to first flower.—Approximately 10-13 weeks from             planting of rooted cutting.         -   Flowering habit.—Freely flowering under outdoor growing             conditions with substantially continuous blooming from             spring through autumn and year round in greenhouse             environment.         -   Flower arrangement.—Solitary, terminal. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Appearance/Type.—Composite, persistent. Shape: Round.             Aspect: Facing upward or outward. Disc and ray florets             develop acropetally on a capitulum. Fragrance: None.         -   Quantity of flowers and buds per plant.—Approximately 5             inflorescence and 18 buds.         -   Size.—Diameter: Approximately 6.7 cm. Depth: Approximately             1.9 cm.         -   Lastingness of inflorescence.—Approximately 6-10 days.         -   Bud.—Rate of opening: Generally it takes 3-4 days for buds             to progress from first color to fully open flowers. Shape at             first color: Elliptic. Diameter: Approximately 1.2 cm.             Depth: Approximately 1.9 mm. Color: Closest to N187A.         -   Ray florets.—Quantity per inflorescence: Approximately 21,             arranged in a single whorl. Arrangement: Slightly             overlapping. Aspect: Cupped when first open, progressing to             flat then down turning at maturity. Shape: Ligulate. Apex:             Emarginate. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire. Length:             Approximately 3.4 cm. Width: Approximately 7.8 mm. Texture:             Glabrous and ribbed. Color of young and mature ray florets:             Upper surface: Closest to but lighter than 155D. Lower             surface: Closest to 186C with ribs of N186B.         -   Disc.—Diameter: Approximately 1.2 cm. Depth: Approximately             7.8 mm. Receptical diameter: 3.5 mm. Receptical depth: 2 mm.             Receptical color: 145B.         -   Disc florets.—Quantity per inflorescence: Approximately 60.             Shape: Tubular with five lobes each having an acute apex.             Margin: Entire. Length: Approximately 6 mm. Diameter at             apex: Approximately 3 mm. Diameter at base: Approximately             0.8 mm. Texture of outer surface: Sparsely pubescent.             Texture of inner surface: Glabrous. Color of immature             floret: N92A. Color of mature floret: 77A. Calyx         -   Phyllaries.—Quantity per inflorescence: Approximately 18.             Arrangement: Imbricate, arranged in several rows. Shape:             Lanceolate. Apex: Acuminate. Base: Truncate. Margin: Entire.             Length: Approximately 1.1 cm. Width: Approximately 2 mm.             Texture of upper surface: Glabrous, papery along edges.             Texture of lower surface: Moderately pubescent. Color of             upper surface: Closest to 143B. Color of lower surface:             Closest to 143C. Colorless and translucent along margin.         -   Peduncle.—Strength: Strong. Aspect: Erect. Length:             Approximately 5.9 cm. Diameter: Approximately 1.7 mm.             Texture: Rough. Color: 144B with overlay of 187B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Present on disc florets             only. Stamen quantity: 5. Anther shape: Linear. Anther             length: 2 mm. Anther color: 93A. Amount of pollen: Abundant.             Pollen color: 21A. Gynoecium: Present on ray and disc             florets. There is one pistil per floret. Pistil length:             8 mm. Stigma shape: Two parted. Stigma length: 1 mm. Stigma             color: N92A. Style length: 4 mm. Style color: N155B. Ovary             diameter: 3 mm. Ovary color: -   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has     been observed. -   Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests     common to Osteospermums has not been observed. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Osteospermum plant named ‘Balserwhit’, substantially as herein shown and described. 